Honey-Roasted Apple and Walnut Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
A fresh regional-inspired salad combining honey-roasted apples, crunchy walnuts, and mixed greens dressed in a tangy mustard vinaigrette. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 30 minutes pairs roughly chopped walnuts, mixed salad greens, divided olive oil into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 medium (such as Braeburn), cored and sliced into 1/4 inch wedges apples
- 1/2 cup, roughly chopped walnuts
- 5 cups mixed salad greens
- 3 tbsp, divided olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a bowl, toss 2 sliced medium apples with 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp olive oil until evenly coated. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes until tender and caramelized.
- Step 2: Toast 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
- Step 4: In a large salad bowl, combine 5 cups mixed salad greens, roasted apples, and toasted walnuts. Drizzle with prepared mustard vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.
- Step 5: Serve immediately as a light starter or side salad.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Honey-Roasted Apple and Walnut Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Honey-Roasted Apple and Walnut Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep roughly chopped walnuts from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Honey-Roasted Apple and Walnut Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Honey-Roasted Apple and Walnut Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Honey-Roasted Apple and Walnut Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette?
Mediterranean salads like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.